Racial Stereotypes

It was with great interest and amusement that I read Julie Tamaki’s “Stereotypes Mask Struggle of Some Asian Americans,” May 19. We Latinos suffer the same indignation. I’m always amused by polls, studies and public agencies that quantify and qualify Latinos. I’m Latin American, sixth-generation Californian. My uncle was in World War I and was never qualified ethnically. My brother was in World War II and was titled Caucasian. As an elementary student in the ‘40s, I was Caucasian / olive complexion. In contemporary times it appears that we Latin Americans (speaking simplistically Latinos are those who came under the influence of imperial Rome) have become a new race of people.

Latin Americans can be black, white, brown, Asian ad infinitum. I’m olive-complexioned; my cousins are named Williams, blond and blue-eyed. They attended Cal in the ‘30s. You can rest assured that they probably weren’t classified Latinos.

Latin Americans come in all colors and from many different countries. Some of us were here when California was Latin America, and more Latin Americans are coming every day from Mexico, Guatemala, Puerto Rico, Nicaragua and Argentina in all shapes, colors and sizes. May I add that I’m proudest to fly the red, white and blue. My blood is the same color.

MANUEL R. GUTIERREZ

Studio City